Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the mid-morning call to emergency services. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel at 10:26 a.m. No further details were available at press time.

Major Garza was well liked by his coworkers and fellow crewmembers and will be fondly remembered. His death is a shock to the squadron.

“In the year that Major Garza had been assigned to the 19th (SOS), I had known him to be a professional instructor and aviator who was admired and respected by everyone with which he worked and flew,” said Lt. Col. Donald Timpson, 19th SOS director of operations. “He will be missed by everyone who knew him.”

Maj. Garza is survived by his wife, Genevieve, two daughters, Lilliana, 5, and Adriana, 4, and son, Matthew, 2.

A memorial service for Major Garza will be held at noon today in the base chapel.

Anyone person or persons who have a claim for or against the estate of Major Garza should contact Maj. Russell Sullivan at 881-3978 or via e-mail at russell.sullivan@hurlburt.af.mil.